Wind-wheel



(No Mudel.)

E. H. THOMPSON.

WIND WHEEL Patented Apr. 26,1898.

UNITED STATES ELIAS l-I. THOMPSON, OF NEWARK, CALIFORNIA.

WIND-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 603,119, dated April 26, 1898.

Application filed August 4, 1897.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELIAS H. THOMPSON, of Newark, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented a new Improvement in Wind-\Vheels; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a perspective view of a wheel constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a rear view of a section of the rim and band with one of the buckets detached; Fig. 3, an end view of one of the buckets detached.

This invention relates to an improvement in wind-wheels, the object of the invention being to secure an increase of power without increasing the diameter of the wheel; and it consists in the particular formation of the bucket of the wheel, as will be hereinafter described,and particularly recited in the claims.

The main body of the wheel in which the buckets are supported may be of the usual construction, and preferably will consist of a hub A, having ribs a. a at opposite ends, in which are secured the spokes B, the outer ends of which are united by a rim 0, to the outer face of which the buckets D are secured by bolts E and F, and around the outside of the buckets and concentric with the rim 0 is a band G, which is held in position by the said bolts F, as will be hereinafter described. The buckets D consist of a winding back H and sides I J, which are paraboliform, but differentiated in size and differentiated as to the curvature of their lower edges, the smaller side being located against the rim 0. These sides are transversely bowed and united at their lower edges to the edges of the back H, so that the back is compoundly curved. The sides H are also connected with the band G by bolts E. To the reverse side of the back is secured a tube K, through which the bolt F extends, and so that the bucket is securely held in position. At the same time the bolt F Serial No. 647,065. (No model.)

also unites the band G with the rim. By thus compoundly curving the buckets they will catch and hold the air, which is in a sense compressed within the bucket, so as to increase its power as it is forced through the bucket and thus greatly increasing the power derived. The buckets, owing to their peculiar form, may be constructed from very light sheet metal, and consequently will stand a large amount of strain and without materially increasing the weight of the wheel. The diameter of the wheel and the size of the buckets may be increased according to the amount of power desired.

I am aware that wind-wheels comprising two rims and a series of buckets arranged be tween them have been employed, and therefore do not wish to be understood as claiming, broadly, such as my invention; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a wind-wheel, the combination with the hub, spokes and rim thereof, of a series of buckets secured to said rim and each comprising a curved back and two sides, said sides differentiated in size and having their lower edges to which the backs are secured differentially curved, substantially as described.

2. In a wind-wheel, the combination with the hub, spokes and rim thereof, of a series of buckets each comprising a back and two sides, said sides difierentiated in size and having their lower edges to which the backs are secured differentially curved, the smaller side secured to the said rim, a band surrounding said buckets, and bolts connecting said rim and band and supporting said buckets, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signedthis specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELIAS H. THOMPSON. Witnesses:

P. MoULroN, A. S. CLARK. 

